Second U.S. Passports Recommended for Outbound Travelers

Second passports are a great option for international travelers. If you’re a frequent international traveler you should have two valid us passports. This way you have one to send, to a consulate so that you can get a visa for a future trip while you use passport #2 to take a more immediate trip. Ask Willamette Intl Travel about your travel visa options. If you book a trip with us, we can help to arrange your visa to China, Russia or elsewhere.

SAS Potential Pilot Strike In September 2017

SAS pilot unions are not happy that the airline has plans to open bases in both London and Marbella to lower costs and plan to strike after negotiation period is over perhaps starting September 11, 2017. SAS has pilot unions in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Last year, SAS pilots did strike in Sweden while Danish and Norwegian ones continued to operate flights. Pilots at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) haven’t been able to negotiate the airline’s controversial plans to hire and base new pilots, at lower wages and benefits, in England and Spain. They’ve thus resorted to raising old demands, like getting more weekends off, and are warning they’ll walk off the job if their demands aren’t met. The prospect of another major pilots’ strike in Scandinavia means passengers face more severe travel disruption in September. Three unions representing SAS Danish and Norwegian pilots have sent out their first formal warnings of a labour conflict, after talks officially broke down late last week. DN noted that EU regulations, meanwhile, prevent the establishment of the new bases from being part of their negotiations.

Boston Airport Could Start Charging Fliers Arriving, Leaving By Car?

The Associated Press reports the Massachusetts Port Authority has agreed to study imposing a fee on drivers coming and going from Logan International Airport. The operators of Logan International Airport in Boston have agreed to study a plan to charge drivers who pick up or drop off passengers at the terminals in an attempt to cut down on congestion and pollution. The Boston Globe reports that the study is part of an agreement between the Massachusetts Port Authority and the environmental group, the Conservation Law Foundation. In exchange, the foundation will not oppose the agency’s $250 million plan to add 5,000 parking spaces at Logan. Massport officials say more than 20,000 cars per day pull up to Logan’s terminals to either drop someone off or pick someone up. More flights in an out of Boston in the last few years means more pollution. The review is expected to be completed by July 2019.

Dubrovnik Seeks Solutions To Summer Overcrowding

ETN reports Dubrovnik Port Authority is working with the city’s mayor and public authorities in seeking a solution to overcrowding in the Old City of Dubrovnik, particularly in the summer months. Katarina Varez, marketing and sales manager Dubrovnik Port Authority, told Seatrade Cruise News that following meetings with the mayor and relevant public services, ‘We are looking at several objectives for reducing visitors, with the aim of avoiding port and city congestion, regulating traffic and securing a high quality stay in the destination.’ Varez said these focus on extending the peak cruise season and increasing calls in the shoulder months, better daily distribution of cruise calls and longer cruise ship stays. She said the port has been ‘actively endeavouring to implement a sustainable cruise destination policy in recent years.’ This is in response to a UNESCO mission to the World Heritage-listed city in 2015 which recommended a cap on cruise passengers of no more than 8,000 a day. Almost 750,000 cruise passengers will arrive on 538 ships in 2017, a decrease in numbers for the first time, partly due to this policy, the port confirmed. The mayor of the city told the Telegraph he would lower the passenger cap from 8,000 to 4,000 a day in an attempt to ease the crowds. “Some of the cruise lines will disagree with what I’m saying but my main goal is to ensure quality for tourists and I cannot do it by keeping the situation as it is,’ he told the newspaper. “Any restrictions will not affect those calls already confirmed and the process of reducing cruise visitors is to be implemented gradually.”